Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, located 110 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Morondava in west Madagascar, is the largest national park and the first UNESCO World Heritage in the country. With its unique karstic stone forests and rich endemic species of animals and plants, the national park has attracted numerous backpackers to explore and feel the natural beauty.

How Does the Karstic Landform in the Park Form?

A long time ago, it was a sea here. With the movements of tectonic plates, the sea disappeared. About 200 million years ago, the fossils and shells on the bottom of the sea began to deposit, and the deposited sediment has been eroded by rainwater for about 5 million years and become sharp and steep. Finally, the magnificent karstic limestone forests have emerged. You can also learn about the key feature of the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park from the word “Tsingy” which means “you cannot walk barefoot here” in Malagasy, the local language. That shows how precipitous the landform in the park is.

What to Do in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

Appreciate Stone Forests - Unique Karstic Landscape

With altitudes ranging from 150 to 170 meters (490 to 560 feet), the steep and gigantic stone forests with deep canyons have earned a reputation as the “world’s largest natural labyrinth” and attracted innumerable tourists to appreciate this natural wonder. Standing on the bottom of a canyon and looking up, what you will see is a narrow slit of sky. Some gaps can only accommodate one person to pass through and you have to climb a narrow ladder to a higher part of the stone forests. The suspension bridge constructed in the stone forests allows tourists to stand on and take fabulous pictures.

View Lemurs and Mangroves in a Flora and Fauna Kingdom

With its massive grasslands, dense forests, and pure lakes, the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is an authentic paradise for 376 species of animals and 833 species of plants. Nature lovers will be amazed by the vigor and vitality here.

Among the rare animals living here, you can view endemic lemurs, Malagasy ring-tailed mongooses, and Malagasy giant rats. A total of 10 nocturnal lemurs can be met during your night safari in the national park. More than 100 species of land birds and water birds fly around, twitter, and seek their food.

In the dark gray limestone forests, the most brilliant and colorful part is the delicate plants including 817 species of angiosperms and 16 species of ferns. Ebony trees with black trunks, green and yellow wild bananas, baobabs, aloes, and mangroves in different greens, and many more plants with vivid colors await you to find.

Choose One of the Nine Ecotourism Circuits to Enjoy Tsingy’s Beauty

Nine different ecotourism circuits are provided by the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, and you can choose your favorite to appreciate the unique landform.

1. The Andadoany-Ankeligoa circuit provides you with a panoramic view of the stone forests and you can visit ancient caves in the national parks. The Andadoany circuit is 2 kilometers (1 mile) long and needs 4 hours to finish. The Ankeligoa circuit is 6 kilometers (4 miles) long and it takes about 5 hours for a whole trek.

2. To admire the glorious sunset and beautiful scenery on both sides of the suspension bridge, you can choose the second circuit which contains trekking for 4 hours.

3. Camping is the highlight of the third circuit in which you can climb stone forests, view various plants, lemurs, and other animals in the daytime, and camp out in the evening. This circuit is the most difficult one. The simple route of the circuit needs 1 day and the sport route needs 2 days with a circuit length of 9 kilometers (6 miles).

4. The fourth circuit features exploration by canoe for 3 hours and 6 kilometers. In the process, you will see steep canyons, dense tropical forests, and ancient limestone caves.

5. Rappel down into a limestone and you will be guided to walk through underground caves. You can also view lemurs during this adventure tour. The circuit is 9 kilometers long for 2 days and 5 kilometers (3 miles) long for 1 day.

6. This canoe circuit contains a natural pool viewing and you can learn about local tomb culture. Additional camping can be chosen. A round trip lasts 8 hours.

7. Starting from the north entrance of the national park, the seventh circuit is a karst cave adventure tour with 3-hour-long walking for 3 kilometers (2 miles).

8. To enjoy the grand and serene scenery of the stone forests, you can choose the eighth circuit which contains a panoramic view of the national park, viewing on the suspension bridge, and the sunset watching. You will walk for 3 kilometers within 4 to 6 hours. This is a difficult circuit.

9. An easy circuit with a 2-kilometer-long trek for 1 hour in the stone forests and animal and plant viewing.

Open in Dry Season Only

The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park only opens in the dry season from May to November. In the rainy season, the air becomes moist and the roads become muddy and slippery, and this may cause accidents in the park.

How to Get to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

1. If you depart from Morondava, it takes you about 8 hours to get to the south entrance in Bekopaka by four-wheel car and ferry. During the whole ride, the ferry part across the Tsiribihina River takes at least 1 hour. This route is accessible from mid-April to mid-November.
2. It takes you 4 hours from Antsalova to Bekopaka by local taxi, and this route is accessible from May to October. If you take a taxi from Morondava, it takes you 8 hours to get to Bekopaka.
3. It takes you 3 to 4 days by canoe from Ankavandra to Bekopaka.

 Ticket Fare: 55,000 MGA for an adult and 25,000 MGA for a child, excluding the guiding fee. All the tourists, personally or in a group, must be accompanied by a tour guide.
 Other Notes: Remember to wear comfortable long-sleeve clothes, long pants, gloves, and climbing shoes, and take plenty of drinking water.